the black robe-第26章
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〃I asked Mr。 Penrose what part of Devonshire you were visiting；〃
she resumed； assuming her more gracious manner。 〃I know something
myself of the north coast； especially the neighborhood of
Clovelly。〃
Not the faintest change passed over the priest's face； his
fatherly smile had never been in a better state of preservation。
〃Isn't it a charming place？〃 he said with enthusiasm。 〃Clovelly
is the most remarkable and most beautiful village in England。 I
have so enjoyed my little holidayexcursions by sea and
excursions by land… you know I feel quite young again？〃
He lifted his eyebrows playfully； and rubbed his plump hands one
over the other with such an intolerably innocent air of enjoyment
that Stella positively hated him。 She felt her capacity for
self…restraint failing her。 Under the influence of strong emotion
her thoughts lost their customary discipline。 In attempting to
fathom Father Benwell； she was conscious of having undertaken a
task which required more pliable moral qualities than she
possessed。 To her own unutterable annoyance； she was at a loss
what to say next。
At that critical moment her mother appearedeager for news of
the conquest of Romayne。
〃My dear child； how pale you look！〃 said Mrs。 Eyrecourt。 〃Come
with me directlyyou must have a glass of wine。〃
This dexterous devic e for entrapping Stella into a private
conversation failed。 〃Not now； mamma； thank you；〃 she said。
Father Benwell； on the point of discreetly withdrawing； stopped；
and looked at Mrs。 Eyrecourt with an appearance of respectful
interest。 As things were； it might not have been worth his while
to take the trouble of discovering her。 But when she actually
placed herself in his way； the chance of turning Mrs。 Eyrecourt
to useful account was not a chance to be neglected。 〃Your
mother？〃 he said to Stella。 〃I should feel honored if you will
introduce me。〃
Having （not very willingly） performed the ceremony of
presentation； Stella drew back a little。 She had no desire to
take any part in the conversation that might followbut she had
her own reasons for waiting near enough to hear it。
In the meanwhile； Mrs。 Eyrecourt turned on her inexhaustible flow
of small…talk with her customary facility。 No distinction of
persons troubled her； no convictions of any sort stood in her
way。 She was equally ready （provided she met him in good society）
to make herself agreeable to a Puritan or a Papist。
〃Delighted to make your acquaintance； Father Benwell。 Surely I
met you at that delightful evening at the Duke's？ I mean when we
welcomed the Cardinal back from Rome。 Dear old manif one may
speak so familiarly of a Prince of the Church。 How charmingly he
bears his new honors。 Such patriarchal simplicity； as every one
remarked。 Have you seen him lately？〃
The idea of the Order to which he belonged feeling any special
interest in a Cardinal （except when they made him of some use to
them） privately amused Father Benwell。 〃How wise the Church was；〃
he thought； 〃in inventing a spiritual aristocracy。 Even this fool
of a woman is impressed by it。〃 His spoken reply was true to his
assumed character as one of the inferior clergy。 〃Poor priests
like me； madam； see but little of Princes of the Church in the
houses of Dukes。〃 Saying this with the most becoming humility； he
turned the talk in a more productive direction； before Mrs。
Eyrecourt could proceed with her recollections of 〃the evening at
the Duke's。〃
〃Your charming daughter and I have been talking about Clovelly；〃
he continued。 〃I have just been spending a little holiday in that
delightful place。 It was a surprise to me； Mrs。 Eyrecourt； to see
so many really beautiful country seats in the neighborhood。 I was
particularly struckyou know it； of course？by Beaupark House。〃
Mrs。 Eyrecourt's little twinging eyes suddenly became still and
steady。 It was only for a moment。 But that trifling change boded
ill for the purpose which the priest had in view。 Even the wits
of a fool can be quickened by contact with the world。 For many
years Mrs。 Eyrecourt had held her place in society； acting under
an intensely selfish sense of her own interests； fortified by
those cunning instincts which grow best in a barren intellect。
Perfectly unworthy of being trusted with secrets which only
concerned other people； this frivolous creature could be the
unassailable guardian of secrets which concerned herself。 The
instant the priest referred indirectly to Winterfield； by
speaking of Beaupark： House； her instincts warned her； as if in
words：Be careful for Stella's sake！
〃Oh； yes；〃 said Mrs。 Eyrecourt。 〃I know Beaupark House； butmay
I make a confession？〃 she added； with her sweetest smile。
Father Benwell caught her tone； with his customary tact。 〃A
confession at a ball is a novelty； even in my experience；〃 he
answered with _his_ sweetest smile。
〃How good of you to encourage me！〃 proceeded Mrs。 Eyrecourt。 〃No；
thank you； I don't want to sit down。 My confession won't take
longand I really must give that poor pale daughter of mine a
glass of wine。 A student of human nature like youthey say all
priests are students of human nature； accustomed of course to be
consulted in difficulties； and to hear _real_ confessionsmust
know that we poor women are sadly subject to whims and caprices。
We can't resist them as men do； and the dear good men generally
make allowances for us。 Well； do you know that place of Mr。
Winterfield's is one of my caprices？ Oh； dear； I speak
carelessly； I ought to have said the place represents one of my
caprices。 In short。 Father Benwell； Beaupark House is perfectly
odious to me； and I think Clovelly the most overrated place in
the world。 I haven't the least reason to give； but so it is。
Excessively foolish of me。 It's like hysterics； I can't help it；
I'm sure you will forgive me。 There isn't a place on the
habitable globe that I am not ready to feel interested in； except
detestable Devonshire。 I am so sorry you went there。 The next
time you have a holiday； take my advice。 Try the Continent。〃
〃I should like it of all things；〃 said Father Benwell。 〃Only I
don't speak French。 Allow me to get Miss Eyrecourt a glass of
wine。〃
He spoke with the most perfect temper and tranquillity。 Having
paid his little attention to Stella； and having relieved her of
the empty glass； he took his leave； with a parting request
thoroughly characteristic of the man。
〃Are you staying in town； Mrs。 Eyrecourt？〃 he asked。
〃Oh； of course； at the height of the season！〃
〃May I have the honor of calling on youand talking a little
more about the Continent？〃
If he had said it in so many words he could hardly have informed
Mrs。 Eyrecourt more plainly that he thoroughly understood her；
and that he meant to try again。 Strong in the worldly training of
half a lifetime； she at once informed him of her address； with
the complimentary phrases proper to the occasion。 〃Five o'clock
tea on Wednesdays； Father Benwell。 Don't forget！〃
The moment he was gone； she drew her daughter into a quiet
corner。 〃Don't be frightened； Stella。 That sly old person has
some interest in trying to find out about Winterfield。 Do you
know why？〃
〃Indeed I don't； mamma。 I hate him！〃
〃Oh； hush ！ hush！ Hate him as much as you like； but always be
civil to him。 Tell mehave you been in the conservatory with
Romayne？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃All going on well？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃My sweet child！ Dear； dear me； the wine has done you no good；
you're as pale as ever。 Is it that priest？ Oh； pooh； pooh； leave
Father Benwell to me。〃
CHAPTER IV。
IN THE SMALL HOURS。
WHEN Stella left the conservatory； the attraction of the ball for
Romayne was at an end。 He went back to his rooms at the hotel。
Penrose was waiting to speak to him。 Romayne noticed signs of
suppressed agitation in his secretary's face。 〃Has anything
happened？〃 he inquired。
〃Nothing of any importance；〃 Penrose answered； in sad subdued
tones。 〃I only wanted to ask you for leave of absence。〃
〃Certainly。 Is it for a long time？〃
Penrose hesitated。 〃You have a new life opening before you；〃 he
said。 〃If your experience of that life isas I hope and pray it
may bea happy one； you will need me no longer； we may not meet
again。〃 His voice began to tremble； he could say no more。
〃Not meet again？〃 Romayne repeated。 〃My dear Penrose； if _you_
forget how many happy days I owe to your companionship； _my_
memory is to be trusted。 Do you really know what my new life is
to be？ Shall I tell you what I have said to Stella to…night？〃
Penrose lifted his hand with a gesture of entreaty。
〃Not a word！〃 he said； eagerly。 〃Do me one more kindnessleave
me to be prepared （as I am prepared） for the change that is to
come； without any confidence on your part to enlighten me
further。 Don't think me ungrateful。 I have reasons for saying
what I have just saidI cannot mention what they areI can only
tell you they are serious reasons。 You have spoken of my devotion
to you。 If you wish to reward me a hundred…fold more than I
deserve； bear in mind our conversations on religion； and keep the
books I asked you to read as gifts from a friend who loves you
with his whole heart。 No new duties that you can undertake are
incompatible with the higher interests of your soul。 Think of me
sometimes。 When I leave you I go back to a lonely life。 My poor
heart is full of your brotherly kindness at this last moment when
I may be saying good…by forever。 And what is my one consolation？
What helps me to bear my hard lot？ The Faith that I hold！
Remember that； Romayne。 If there comes a time of sorrow in the
future； remember that。〃
Romayne was more than surprised； he was shocked。 〃Why must you
leave me？〃 he asked。
〃It is best for you and for _her；_〃 said Penrose； 〃that I should
withdraw myself from your new life。〃
He held out his hand。 Romayne refused to let him go。 〃Penrose！〃
he said； 〃I can't match your resignation。 Give me something to
